Cost of Living Comparison Between Iceland and China Cost of Living Comparison Between Iceland and China

😐 Solo nomad: Iceland is 236.2% more expensive than China without rent, and 369.9% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Iceland is 251.8% more expensive than China without rent, and 296.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Iceland
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$26.93 ISK 3,288
$2.86 ¥19.51
841.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$127 ISK 15.5K
$23.89 ¥163
430.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$20.36 ISK 2,486
$4.77 ¥32.61
326.83%
Cappuccino
$5.84 ISK 713
$3.08 ¥21.02
89.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 ISK 402
$0.44 ¥2.99
647.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 ISK 327
$0.27 ¥1.84
892.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.22 ISK 1,492
$0.93 ¥6.36
1213.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.49 ISK 1,280
$2.04 ¥13.96
414.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Iceland
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 ISK 237
$1.78 ¥12.16
8.99%
White Bread (500g)
$4.17 ISK 509
$1.60 ¥10.94
160.62%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.57 ISK 436
$0.98 ¥6.70
264.29%
Eggs
$6.38 ISK 778
$1.55 ¥10.60
311.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$18.51 ISK 2,260
$13.22 ¥90.3
40.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$24.46 ISK 2,986
$3.39 ¥23.13
621.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$42.80 ISK 5,225
$10.52 ¥71.9
306.84%
Apples (1kg)
$3.18 ISK 388
$1.84 ¥12.59
72.83%
Banana (1kg)
$2.43 ISK 296
$1.30 ¥8.89
86.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.83 ISK 345
$1.47 ¥10.03
92.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.10 ISK 623
$1.15 ¥7.83
343.48%
Potato (1kg)
$3.51 ISK 428
$0.72 ¥4.94
387.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 ISK 278
$0.94 ¥6.40
142.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.17 ISK 387
$0.61 ¥4.16
419.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.25 ISK 275
$0.53 ¥3.61
324.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.21 ISK 1,734
$3.54 ¥24.15
301.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.03 ISK 2,690
$11.89 ¥81.2
85.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.59 ISK 438
$0.79 ¥5.39
354.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 ISK 384
$1.69 ¥11.51
86.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Iceland
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.30 ISK 647
$0.44 ¥2.98
1104.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$83.8 ISK 10.2K
$20.98 ¥143
299.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.16 ISK 752
$1.38 ¥9.39
346.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.27 ISK 278
$0.35 ¥2.40
548.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$86.0 ISK 10.5K
$6.75 ¥46.13
1173.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.48 ISK 303
$1.16 ¥7.93
113.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.5K ISK 5.8M
$19.7K ¥134.8K
140.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$52.8K ISK 6.4M
$16.9K ¥115.8K
211.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Iceland
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$91.0 ISK 11.1K
$50.3 ¥344
80.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.81 ISK 3,395
$10.04 ¥68.5
176.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$88.4 ISK 10.8K
$11.39 ¥77.8
675.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Iceland
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$82.4 ISK 10.1K
$40.16 ¥274
105.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$38.19 ISK 4,662
$14.68 ¥100
160.15%
Cinema Ticket
$17.73 ISK 2,165
$6.21 ¥42.39
185.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Iceland
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$346 ISK 42.2K
$402 ¥2,746
-14.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$29.6K ISK 3.6M
$17.4K ¥119.1K
69.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Iceland
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$137 ISK 16.7K
$46.39 ¥317
195.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.0 ISK 7,808
$32.60 ¥223
96.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$173 ISK 21.1K
$71.3 ¥487
142.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$249 ISK 30.4K
$74.8 ¥511
232.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Iceland
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,170 ISK 264.9K
$429 ¥2,931
405.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,995 ISK 243.5K
$261 ¥1,783
664.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,122 ISK 381.1K
$915 ¥6,253
241.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,691 ISK 328.5K
$545 ¥3,725
393.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,697 ISK 939.6K
$5,127 ¥35.0K
50.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,250 ISK 762.9K
$2,614 ¥17.9K
139.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Iceland
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,656 ISK 568.3K
$1,061 ¥7,244
338.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.88
4.06
143.35%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Iceland: April 12, 2026

Last update for China: April 12, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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